Fingerpiece controlled gas lighters



Dec. 20, 1966 c. ZELLWEGER ETAL. 3,292,396 l FINGERPIECE CONTROLLED GAS LGHTERS Original Filed July 23, 1963 w F/G. if mi i x ///6 1l iM i 1 96 ma E /04 mit ii U: I il 4 54 "i /0Z* l l l| i 90/00 92 6 M i|1 l M 95 IM" II la Wl U li 94 l ig I r INVENTORS 1d/14640 z. WEG 5,6

United States Patent Office 3,292,396 Patented Dec. 20, 1966 3,292,396 FINGERIIECE CNTROLLED GAS LIGHTERS Conrad Zellweger, Geneva, Switzerland, and William Retzler, Great Beckham, England, assignors to La Nationale SA., Geneva, Switzerland, a corporation of Switzerland, and Ronson Corporation, Woodbridge, N .J a corporation of New Jersey @riginal application July 23, 1963, Ser. No. 297,128, now Patent No. 3,208,243, dated Sept. 28, 1965. Divided and this application Sept. 15, 1965, Ser. No. 498,183 Claims priority, application Switzerland, July 27, 1962,

This application is a division of pending application, Serial No. 297,128 filed July 23, 1963 and assigned to the same assignee as the present application. The application is now Patent No. 3,208,243, granted September 28, 1965.

This invention relates to gas fueled cigar lighters and more particularly it concerns a ingerpiece operated gas lighter where in the flow of fuel through a burner nozzle on the lighter is regulated by means of a movable fingerpiece.

In gas type lighters a highly volatile fuel is maintained within a reservoir in its liquid form under pressures substantially in excess of atmospheric pressure. During operation of the lighter, this fuel, in passing from the reservoir through a gas passage, is throttled down to atmospheric pressure thus converting it to gaseous form; and it is then expelled out through a burner nozzle and ignited. The size of the orifice through which the throttling process takes place determines the rate of fuel flow and consequently the height of flame maintained above the lighter.

Fine or gradual flow adjustment means are often provided to vary the size of the vthrottling orifice within given limits so as to obtain close control of the height of the flame above the lighter. Because of the nature of the fuels involved and because of the influence of these fuels upon llame height, the region over which the orifice is adjusted is small relative to its overall size.

For completely shutting off fuel ow so as to extinguish the flame and prevent fuel loss when the lighter is not in use, there are also provided positive flow control means which act to check and uncheck fuel ilow either to or from the variable orifice.

The presence of gradual adjustment means and positive ow control means has accounted for a considerable portion of the complexity and cost of gas lighters. Very often the controls for these means are such as to require two handed operation of the lighter thus rendering the lighter generally inconvenient to handle and operate.

According to the present invention there is provided a lighter in which both positive flow control and gradual flow adjustment are effectuated by means of a single depressible fingerpiece element. The control system of the present invention provides simplification of both the construction and the operation of a gas lighter while maintaining complete and full control of fuel llow therein.

In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, the two functions of positive flow control and gradual ow adjustment are obtained at a single point within a gas passage leading from the lighter fuel reservoir to its burner nozzle. This is achieved by providing at such point a variable construction which is adjustable from :a complete closure to a gas passage opening commensurate with maximum flow. A depressible iingerpiece is provided and is connected to vary this orifice opening over this complete range. Complete and rapid depression of the iingerpiece upon ignition of the lighter ensures immediate and full opening of the fuel passageway; and subsequent partial release of the lingerpiece effects gradual flow yadjustment for the control of flame height.

There has thus been outlined rather broadly the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will forni the -subject of the claims appended hereto. Those skilled in the 4art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures for carrying out the several purposes of the invention. It is important therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions as do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention.

A specific embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes of illustration and description, and is shown in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the specilication, wherein:

FIG. l is a section view of an upper portion of a lighter embodying the present invention; and

FIGURE 2 is a top view of the lighter of FIG. l with its cover removed.

The lighter shown in the drawings includes a body having a pressurized fuel container 82 formed in its lower portion and provided with vertical walls 84 which rise above a top wall 86 of the fuel container to define an operating assembly housing 88. The present lighter is provided with a burner valve assembly 90 having a housing 92 which is threadedly engaged in and extends through the top wall 86 of the lighter fuel container. This burner housing contains a longitudinal internal gas passageway 94 which extends between a point within the fuel container 82 and a nozzle element mounted thereabove. The upper portion of the gas passageway is formed with a tapered thread 98 and accommodates a similarly tapered threaded portion 14N) of a movable valve element 102. The upper portion of the movable valve element is luted and extends into the nozzle element 96 to rotate therewith and yet to move longitudinally relative thereto, While at the same time permitting gaseous fuel to iiow up between the flutes and out through the nozzle opening. The tapered screwthread coniiguration forms a helically shaped region in the uid passageway connecting the interior of the fuel container and the nozzle element 96. The cross sectional area of this helically shaped portion may be ad# justed simply by turning down the movable valve element 102 into the housing 92. This effectively varies the amount of fuel which flows out through the nozzle element and thus governs flame height. By turning the movable valve element down completely so that the threads interfere with the threads of the valve housing, the ow of fuel can be completely stopped.

A horizontally depressible fingerpiece 104 is mounted for rotation about the axis of the valve assembly 90 and is connected to the nozzle element 96 to cause rotation of the movable valve element 102. A coil spring 106 is provided to bias the fingerpiece outwardly from the side of the lighter in a direction such that the movable valve element is turned down fully to prevent fuel flow from the nozzle element.

A manually rotatable sparking wheel 108 is provided on the top of the lighter and a flint element 110 is guided in a longitudinal groove 112 cut in the lighter toward the peripherally abrading surface of the sparking wheel 108. A coil compression spring 114 is fitted in the groove 112 and urges the flint against the sparking wheel. A cover element 116 is affixed to the top of the lighter immediately above the sparking wheel and flint element to hold these items in proper spacial relationship.

In operation of the lighter the sparking wheel 108 is rotated manually in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 2; and the users thumb coming off the sparking Wheel naturally falls against the iingerpiece 104, causing it to depress. This rotates and retracts the movable valve element 102 thus opening the helical portion of the gas passageway 94 to its fullest extent, permitting maximum fuel fiow out through the nozzle element 96. The shower of sparks created by the rotation of the sparking Wheel against the flint element causes the gases emanating from the burner nozzle to ignite. Adjustment of the flame height is achieved through partial release of the fingerpiece causing the helical pasageway to constrict according to a desired fuel flow.

It can be seen that in the lighter constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention as described above, the entire throttling process takes place across the gradually -adjustable portion of the gas passage, the positive ow control means being such that little or no pressure drop occurs thereacross during operation of the lighter. On the other hand, when the lighter is not in use, the entire pressure drop between the lighter reservoir and the atmosphere takes place across the positive flow control means.

The present invention, as will be appreciated, permits the rather numerous and complex operati-ons involved in the ignition, the unchecking, the throttling and the adjustment of flow rate of the liquefied fuel in a small gas lighter to be accomplished with ease and safety While holding and operating the lighter with one hand.

Having thus described my invention with particular reference to the preferred form there-of, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains, after understanding my invention, that various changes and modications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, as defined by the claims appended thereto.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

ll. A hand held lighter of the gas fuel type comprising a reservoir for maintaining highly volatile fuel under pressure in its liquefied state, a sparking wheel having an abrading surface, a flint element biased against the abrading surface of said sparking wheel, a burner nozzle mounted near said sparking wheel and fiint element, a valve element rotatably mounted in one wall of said reservoir about -a predetermined axis of rotation and movable back and forth in a given direction perpendicular to said axis of rotation over a limited distance with respect to -said one wall, said valve element having surfaces which extend at least partially transversely to said given direction and which face corresponding surfaces in said one wall to effect simultaneous movement of said valve element in said given direction during said rotation and to form therebetween a gas passageway ow control region which varies in cross sectional area from zero to a maximum as said valve element is rotated about said axis from a first position to a second position, respectively, said one wall containing a fluid conduit leading from the interior of said reservoir to one end of the flow control region of said gas passageway, and a further fluid conduit leading from the other end of the ow control region of said gas passage way to said burner nozzle, a single actuator lever connected at one end to said valve element for rotation therewith about said axis between said first and second positions to open said flow control region of said gas passageway upon initial rotation away from said first position and toward said second position and to thereafter vary the opening thereof to control the rate of flow of A fuel through said passageway, and spring means engaging against said actuator lever and normally holding said actutor lever and valve element in said first position to close said passageway.

2. The lighter described in claim 1 wherein said surfaces are in the form of a tapered screw thread.

3. A hand held lighter of the gas fuel type comprising a reservoir for maintaining highly volatile fuel under pressure in its liquefied state, a burner nozzle for passage of gas from said reservoir to the atmosphere, ignition means for igniting gas emanating from said burner nozzle, a hollow tubular element sealed to and extending through a wall of said reservoir and comunicating between the interior of said reservoir and said burner nozzle, a portion of said hollow tubular member being formed with internal threads, a screw element rotatably positioned in said tubular element for rotation about the longitudinal axis of said tubular element between rst and second positions, said screw element having threads engageable with the threads of said hollow tubular element and shaped to form in conjunction with the threads of said hollow tubular element a helically extending gas passageway, the thread of at least one of said elements being tapered so that the opening formed by said helically extending gas pasageway is variable upon rotation of said screw element, said tapered threads along said one element becoming equal in diameter to the thread diameter of the other element to interfere therewith and completely stop the flow of gas upon rotation of said screw element in one direction to said first position, an operating lever connected at one end to said screw element for rotation therewith about said axis between said first and sec-ond positions to open said flow control region of said gas passageway upon initial rotation away from said first position and toward said second position and to thereafter vary the opening thereof to control the rate of ow of fuel through said passageway, and spring means engaging against said operating lever and normally holding said operating lever and screw element in said first position to close said passageway.

fi. The lighter described in claim 3 wherein said operating lever is mounted to protrude from the side of the lighter when said screw element is in said first position and said helically shaped passageway is closed, said threads being pitched in a direction such that the rotation of said screw toward said second position produced by pressing said lever in toward said lighter causes opening of said helical passageway.

5. The lighter described in claim 4 wherein:

(a) said means for igniting gas emanating from said burner nozzle includes a sparking wheel having an abrading surface with a portion of the periphery of said sparking wheel mounted to protrude from said side of the lighter; and

(b) said operating lever protrudes from said side of the lighter at a position in line with said sparking wheel to be immediately engaged by the users linger after pasing over said sparking wheel.

References Cited hy the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,652,707 9/1953 Reilly 677.l 3,088,301 5/1963 Gruber et al 67-7.l 3,148,521 9/1964 Zellweger 67-7.l 3,190,088 6/1965 Kitabayashi 67-7.l 3,208,243 9/1965 Zellweger et al 67-7.l

EDWARD J. MICHAEL, Primary Examiner. 

1. A HAND HELD LIGHTER OF THE GAS FUEL TYPE COMPRISING A RESERVOIR FOR MAINTAINING HIGHLY VOLATILE FUEL UNDER PRESSURE IN ITS LIQUEFIED STATE, A SPARKING WHEEL HAVING AN ABRADING SURFACE, A FLINT ELEMENT BIASED AGAINST THE ABRADING SURFACE OF SAID SPARKING WHEEL, A BURNER NOZZLE MOUNTED NEAR SAID SPARKING WHEEL AND FLINT ELEMENT, A VALVE ELEMENT ROTATABLY MOUNTED IN ONE WALL OF SAID RESERVOIR ABOUT A PREDETERMINED AXIS OF ROTATION AND MOVABLE BACK AND FORTH IN A GIVEN DIRECTION PERPENDICULAR TO SAID AXIS OF ROTATION OVER A LIMITED DISTANCE WITH RESPECT TO SAID ONE WALL, SAID VALVE ELEMENT HAVING SURFACES WHICH EXTEND AT LEAST PARTIALLY TRANSVERSELY TO SAID GIVEN DIRECTION AND WHICH FACE CORRESPONDING SURFACES IN SAID ONE WALL TO EFFECT SIMULTANEOUS MOVEMENT OF SAID VALVE ELEMENT IN SAID GIVEN DIRECTION DURING SAID ROTATION AND TO FORM THEREBETWEEN A GAS PASSAGEWAY FLOW CONTROL REGION WHICH VARIES IN CROSS SECTIONAL AREA FROM ZERO TO A MAXIMUM AS SAID VALVE ELEMENT IS ROTATED ABOUT SAID AXIS FROM A FIRST POSITION TO A SECOND POSITION, RESPECTIVELY, SAID ONE WALL CONTAINING A FLUID CONDUIT LEADING FROM THE INTERIOR OF SAID RESERVOIR TO ONE END OF THE FLOW CONTROL REGION OF SAID PASSAGEWAY, AND A FURTHER FLUID CONDUIT LEADING FROM THE OTHER END OF THE FLOW CONTROL REGION OF SAID GAS PASSAGEWAY TO SAID BURNER NOZZLE, A SINGLE ACTUATOR LEVER CONNECTED AT ONE END TO SAID VALVE ELEMENT FOR ROTATION THEREWITH ABOUT SAID AXIS BETWEEN SAID FIRST AND SECOND POSITIONS TO OPEN SAID FLOW CONTROL REGION OF SAID GAS PASSAGEWAY UPON INITIAL ROTATION AWAY FROM SAID FIRST POSITION AND TOWARD SAID SECOND POSITION AND TO THEREAFTER VARY THE OPENING THEREOF TO CONTROL THE RATE OF FLOW OF FUEL THROUGH SAID PASSAGEWAY, AND SPRING MEANS ENGAGING AGAINST SAID ACTUATOR LEVER AND NORMALLY HOLDING SAID ACTUATOR LEVER AND VALVE ELEMENT IN SAID FIRST POSITION TO CLOSE SAID PASSAGEWAY. 